Tiajuan Thomas was named Buddy Blair Award winner for 2013 after graduating as the valedictorian of Ouachita High School while playing three sports. He earned a scholarship to Stanford University.

Written by

Cole Avery
ravery2@thenewsstar.com

Not many people can become the valedictorian of a Class 5A high school while playing three sports. Fewer still can turn those talents into a football scholarship to Stanford University.

But that's exactly what Ouachita's Tiajuan Thomas was able to accomplish during his high school tenure. Thomas excelled on the field and in the classroom, which earned him the 2013 Buddy Blair Award that recognizes the top student-athletes in northeastern Louisiana.

"It's a great honor to be recognized like this," Thomas said. "It shows that not only are athletics important, but academics are also ...